In a conference call with reporters, Pawlenty was clearly prepared for the question. He rattled off the list of high-profile Granite State Republicans who back Romney — former Gov. John Sununu, former Sen. Judd Gregg, Sen. Kelly Ayotte — to make his case.

"Every candidate is going to get their fair share of endorsements," Pawlenty said, adding that Romney has "more than his fair share."

Even as he implicitly downplayed the Union Leader's role in the Granite State's GOP primary process, the Minnesotan said nothing directly about the paper or Gingrich.